Bocas del Toro Travel Guide | Paradise in Panama's Caribbean

What to do in Bocas del Toro?

The province of Bocas del Toro offers splendid locations to practice water sports or simply, to relax on a white sand beach or to sunbathe. This is the perfect place to spend several days before or after you Spanish course at our Language school. The archipelago is comprised of six large islands and some minor ones. The largest of the islands is called Colón Island, followed by Popa Island, Bastimentos Island, Cristóbal Island, Water Key and Carenero Key.

On the Island of Colon you will find a large number of hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers and installations for ecological and adventure tourism. The Boca del Drago Beach on the oriental part of the island is ideal for snorkeling, as well as swimming. For surfing, the best beaches are Puss Head Point, Paunch Beach and Bluff Beach. You can also find plenty of places for scuba diving.

Bocas del Toro Restaurants

Bocas restaurants are easy on the budget and have a surprising variety of offerings. For seafood we recommend El Pecado on main street for dishes that will satisfy the sophisticated palate but reasonably priced. The lobster is especially good. Across the street from El Pecado, La Laguna Hotel offers mostly Italian dishes including a yummy pizza, has street side seating making it the best place in town for people watching.It also offers a fun all-you-can eat Sunday brunch for $5. Bahia Hotel has a good Italian restaurant with some of the best pizza in town. For gringo food, we recommend the Buena Vista Deli.Two other popular and good restaurants are Om for East Indian food and Mondo Taitu for vegetarian fare. Outside the town of Bocas: For seafood in incomparable surroundings take a water taxi to Restaurant Coral Cay, perched on stilts over the sea. Your lobster will be picked live from a sea cage and you will enjoy gorgeous seaviews all around as you wait for your dish to be prepared.

Coral Cay

Built over the water, just in the way to the Marine Park, and in a place where almost all the tours pass, offer to the tourist delicious meals based on seafood. Fresh products as lobster, fish fillet, whole fish, octopus, shrimps and conch, are cooked at the regional caribbean style and sided with coconut rice and salad, at the shadow of palm roofed huts, while the sea, below and around, show the spectacular colours that made the Caribbean famous.

Lemon Grass Bar & Restaurant

Over the water above Starfleet. Good menu with a lot of Thai style food.

Hotel Swans Cay

We offer excellent Italian, international and local cuisine at very reasonable prices, with a dinning area for a comfortable meal and a beatiful cafeteria with air conditioning. The restaurant is famous for the diversity of dishes included in the menu and the ability to satisfy the more demanding customer.

Yarisnori

Is the most visited beach restaurant in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. At only steps from the beach, under the shadows of a hut with sand floor, Yarisnori Restaurant offers the best seafood in the islands, cooked at the regional style. The restaurant is located in the way of the tours to Boca del Drago, Birds Island and Soropta Channel, being the mandatory stop for tourists.

Pargo Rojo

Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the rustic style bar with its stools, bamboo motifs and white cane. As the bar is built around the open air kitchen you can relax with tropical cocktails with friend as you watch the preparation of the evening's meals. The restaurant offers an international menu with an emphasis on seafood. Upon request, it offers excellent Middle Eastern dishes. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinners which can be enjoyed during a beautiful sunset from its terrace over the ocean. Pargo Rojo also offers its guests Internet services.

Pickled Parrot

Our personal favorite of the Blue Marlin Resort is our Restaurant/Bar, the Pickled Parrot.Join us for some of the best seafood you have ever tasted, then enjoy one of our ice cold Marguerita's with just the right touch of lime.

Bocas del Toro Beaches

Bluff Beach

On Isla Colon where most of the hotels are. You can take a taxi or bicycle a few miles to Bluff Beach, the easiest one to reach and the first really pretty beach. Just before Bluff Beach is Punch Beach, a less scenic beach but one with a reputation for great surfing. Neither of these beaches are safe for swimmers who just want to get wet.

Bocas del Drago

Another beautiful beach on the main island and a bit farther away. When the seas are calm, the snorkeling is good.

Red Frog Beach

On Isla Bastimientos, this is Boca's most beautiful beach. And you won't miss the red frog with black polka dots who calls out to you as you walk through the rainforest. Isla Bastimiento is the only place in the world where this scarlet creature lives.

Playa Larga

Another lovely beach on Isla Bastimientos and if you camp out you may see the famous sea turtles.

Cayos Zapatilla

Beautiful white sand beaches lined with palms and away from it all.

Beach Warning: Many Bocas beaches have strong undertows at times and can be dangerous for swimming. Before you swim out into the waves consult your tour operator and/or the locals regarding the safety of swimming at a particular beach.

Things to do in Bocas del Toro

Diving and Snorkeling

The best places for diving are Hospital Point, Coral Key, Dark Wood Reef and Punta Juan buoy. For snorkeling, the Garden near Cayo Nancy, Hospital Point and Punta Juan buoy are excellent. Go with a diving tour operator or hire a water taxi and go on your own.

When diving in Bocas you will be able to see some of the best preserved hard and soft coral in the world. You will also have the opportunity to see sting rays, lobsters, many species of crabs and a countless variety of tropical reef fish.

Get certified: Bocas Water Sports offers PADI scuba courses from Discover Scuba, open water including certification in Advanced, Rescue, First Aid or Dive Master courses that cost a lot less than similar courses in the United States.

Boat Rentals

Careening Cay Marina has 15 and 20 foot boat launches for rent. Tel: 757-9242.

Rainforests

Flora is everywhere- mangroves and jungles line the coast. Exotic Bird Island has birds seen only on that island. You need a nature guide to enjoy more than just exotic scenery and so we recommend you take a tour with a tour operator.

Nightlife

Bocas is a low-key and friendly town where it is easy to meet with fellow travelers and the local people. In some places, every night it's a party. Start with the Barco Hundido bar and the Buena Vista Deli & Bar, known for good times and good food.

Shopping

Near the end of Bocas' Main St. as you walk towards the sea on the right is Bribri, a marvelous handicrafts store. Friendly owner Manuel has a wide selection of fine local Indian crafts and is happy to explain about the work and culture of the Indian artisans. On the opposite end of the main street, on the right just before the end, walking away from the sea, is a streetside display of molas attended by the Kuna Indians. Panama is famous for its molas-colorful reverse applique cloth designs. This humble stand has the best selection of molas we have seen anywhere. You have the added satisfaction of purchasing directly from the Indians and knowing your dollar will go a long way to helping these worthy people.

Bocas del Toro Hotels

Al Natural Bocas del Toro

Recommended by Travel and Leisure as one of the top ecolodges in the world, on Bastimientos Island just 30 minutes by boat from Bocas town, Al Natural is the perfect island getaway for romantics, honeymooners and nature lovers. Six gorgeous bungalows built of natural materials on the beach with jungle at the back and the open to the sea from the front. Elegantly furnished and absolutely private. Three delicious meals are served each day in an outdoor dining area and snorkeling, windsurfing and kayak equipment is included in the price.Many boat excursions and trekkings into Bastimentos National Parks available. Ask about the all-inclusive package with a two-night minimum stay with one 3-4 hour daily boat tour included and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. English, French and Spanish spoken.

Bahia Hotel Bocas del Toro

Relax in the friendly atmosphere of a beautifully restored grand old building full of history and ocean views. Our hotel is the original turn-of-the-century HQ of the United Fruit Company. We offer 18 perfectly appointed rooms, oversized and comfortable. All rooms are air conditioned, have private baths w/hot shower and cable TV. Rooms with balconies with ocean views available. Everyone is invited to sit on our second story veranda and enjoy sea views while relaxing in Adirondack-style chairs. Enjoy our popular on-premise Italian restaurant. Languages: English and Spanish.

Bocas Best Tropical Suites

We offer 5 Star condominium-style living in a tropical paradise. Our 16 luxury vacation Suites with sea or island views rent per day, week or month. Each Suite includes a queen size bed with an orthopedic mattress, a double sofa bed, a flat 21" TV with Cable including CNN and movie channels, a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove, coffee maker, extractor and all the necessary dishes and utensils, a spacious bathroom with a jacuzzi and maid service. Enjoy our natural swimming pool. Relax in style with us and have the vacation of your life!

Bocas del Toro Hotel

Welcome to the historic and simple elegance of this 11 room boutique hotel. Caribbean style architecture built over the sea complements our open-air WI-FI terrace restaurant and Sports Bar. Our rooms include AC, cable TV, telephone, private baths with hot water. Enjoy our ocean or town view balcony rooms. Boat and kayak tours and house health treatments available. We are a member of the Boutique Hotels & Resorts International recognized for providing unique décor, outstanding service and amenities.

Bocas Inn

The Bocas Inn, owned and operated by Ancon Expeditions of Panama, is a comfortable 7 bedroom sea-front lodge located away from the busy streets of town. Each room is air-conditioned and their private bathrooms have hot water showers provided by innovative solar energy. Breakfast by the sea is included with the room rate and the attention to guests is personalized. The Bocas Inn is rated among the top classic destinations in Central America and Mexico by Outside Magazine's Travelers edition.

El Limbo On the Sea Hotel

In the heart of Bocas, our lovely hotel is built right over the sea in classic Caribbean-style architecture. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding islands as you dine on our restaurant/bar terrace. Dive in or sun bathe on our seaside deck. Our tastefully decorated rooms have AC, cable tv, private baths, telephones, hot and cold water and a mini.frig. Ask about our rooms with sea view balconies. Guests also have priviledges to our private island beach in a nature reserve of an incredible beauty, where a dozen countries have filmed their successful Survivor TV series, including France, Spain, Russia, England, Italy and Portugal.

La Veranda Hotel

Beautifully preserved Victorian Guest House with the true flavor of "Old Bocas" and great prices. Swim in the clear green Caribbean one block away. Spacious colorfully designed rooms with antiques and shell lamps, optional A/C, kitchen on the veranda-weekly and monthly rates. Recommended by the New York Times Budget Traveler.

Laguna Hotel

Lovely European-style hotel with lots of pretty woodwork right in the center of Bocas town. Comfortable, attractive rooms with AC, TV and telephones. Popular on-premise restaurant. Reasonable prices.

Lula's Bed and Breakfast

A beautiful and charming place to stay, with an 80 year history! From the moment you arrive, Lula's warm, natural woods, cool tiles and abundant plants welcome you to the islands. Come enjoy the salt breeze and ceiling fans from our decks, relax and read a book; or retire with a hot shower in your air conditioned room. Wireless internet access is available throughout Lula's.

Maccabite Hotel Over The Sea

A private island getaway on Bastimentos Island in Bocas. We offer you 11 Caribbean-style rooms with all the comforts of home and reasonable rates. Each one has air conditioning, ceiling fan, satelite TV, and a bathroom with hot water, hair dryer and compost toilets. Enjoy beautiful views our decks- see the famous Zapatilla Cays, tropical fauna and wonderful sunrises and sunsets. In our facilities you can relax, swim in the sea, sun bathe and practive water sports cayucos rides (local boats)snorkeling, jet skis, kneeboards, wakeboards, skies and speedboats. We will also help you arrange tours organizing other tours and fishing trips.

Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge

An Acqua-Lodge in a totally virgin and natural environment- enjoy one our nine exclusive cabins set over the crystal clear waters of the Bocas del Toro archipelago.From your private terrace you will be able to observe impressive sunsets interrupted only by playful dolphins.Our guests experience a pure and intimate experience with nature in a place of singular beauty where they can relax in comfort. Recommended in feature stories in Outside Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Brides, Conde Nast Traveler magazines and The New York Times.

Tranquilo Bay

Your home base to explore the islands and highlands of Panama's Wild West. Our guests unpack, settle in and experience our unique tropical island location. Tranquilo Bay is located on a secluded 100-acre facility, adjacent to Bastimentos National Marine Park, with miles of trails full of wildlife, tropical rainforest, incredible coral reef, and the Caribbean Sea. We provide you with a spacious, comfortable air-conditioned cabana, beautiful views, ecological adventure activities, personal attention, and fine cuisine. Our owner-operated eco-facilities include six deluxe cabanas, a beautiful dining area, a large book/movie library, an inviting dock and a variety of other locations to experience the diversity of Bocas del Toro's archipelago and cloud forests. With our all-inclusive packages, everything is taken care of for you - ground transportation in Panama City, transportation between Bocas Town and Tranquilo Bay, accommodations, great food and drink, and a variety of activities to choose from each day. Activities include nature hiking, beaches, kayaking, fishing, skin diving, surfing, and cultural exchange. Internet and telephone service are available in the main lodge.

Vista Mar Hotel

A charming new hotel perched over the Caribbean Sea just one block from the main street of Bocas. We are your home-away-from home with comfortable sea and town view rooms, air-conditioning, a seaside terrace for dining and coffee, another terrace with a hammock for relaxation and an on-premise restaurant. Our gracious English speaking hosts are at your service and ready make sure your have a most pleasurable Bocas stay.

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